It's an unfortunate birthday present for Correa, who turned 24 Sunday. He'll get his first taste of Triple-A after posting a 2.55 ERA and 69/24 K/BB ratio over 81 1/3 innings between High- and Double-A last season. Sun, Mar 18, 2012 01:34:00 PM

It's an unfortunate birthday present for Correa, who turned 24 Sunday. He'll get his first taste of Triple-A after posting a 2.55 ERA and 69/24 K/BB ratio over 81 1/3 innings between High- and Double-A last season.

The move protects him from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Correa, who turns 24 in March, posted a 2.55 ERA and 69/24 K/BB ratio over 81 1/3 innings as a reliever this season between High-A San Jose and Double-A Richmond.

Correa, a 2006 fourth-round pick, emerged as one of the Marlins' better prospects in 2007, only to miss most of 2008 with shoulder issues. That this essentially boils down to Jack Taschner for Correa makes it a good trade for the Giants. Correa is still a legitimate prospect, albeit one with probably no more than a 20 percent chance of making a real impact in the majors, and Taschner is someone who could have been non-tendered back in December. Correa will likely start his Giants career at low-A Augusta.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Scott Kazmir did not exercise the opt-out clause in his contract with the Dodgers.

That means that he'll remain with the Dodgers and earn $32 million over the next two seasons. Given the scarcity of quality starting pitchers in the free agent market this winter, he could become an attractive trade chip for the Dodgers.

Liberatore posted a 0.61 ERA in the first half but had elbow issues in the second half and posted a 9.45 ERA. He's expected to be ready to go at the beginning of next season. Grant Dayton is a lock for the NLDS roster now.